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Showing posts with label leo baeck temple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leo baeck temple. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Leo Baeck Temple by Graham & Graham Photography | 310-594-8074

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah Photographer | Leo Baeck Temple

Three years ago, Sam Graham got a wonderful, dark, moody shot of Dimitry at Leo Baeck Temple on the day of his Bar Mitzvah. Cut to 2011, and now it was brother Dorian's turn for his Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah. So naturally, Sam had to try for something equally dramatic.
We love this shot, and the spotlight on Dorian!


We're also partial to two Bar Mitzvah boys together.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Leo Baeck Temple Bar Mitzvah | American Jewish University



It was our first time at American Jewish University on Mulholland for Elliot's Bar Mitzvah. The family belongs to Leo Baeck, which is under construction remodeling for a year, so Bar Mitzvahs are being held, for the time being, in the retro chapel at AJU. We got the killer shot of Elliot and his siblings outside on the patio, directly across from the chapel.

Later that night, master party planner Nina Bracker staged the hippest, contemporary iPod-themed i-celebration for Elliot at Michael's in Santa Monica. Elliot is having fun in front of some of the really cool lighting effects Nina posted in and around the restaurant patio.





Monday, December 22, 2008

Top Ten Bar/Bat Mitzvah Photos of the Year

It's that end of the year, recap time again. Top Ten Movies! Top Ten CDs! Top Ten TV shows!
And, as always, Graham & Graham's Top Ten Bar/Bat Mitzvah photos of 2008.
This was our best year ever, with more events, more new locales, and new ways of looking at the art of Bar/Bat Mitzvah photography.
In first place, we begin with Dimitri @ Leo Baeck Temple.
Bar Mitzvah Photographer | Graham & Graham
Sam Graham and Dimitri pushed the limits at a Bar Mitzvah/family portrait shoot, and (with further assist from Photoshop) came up with a memorable, iconic image that we used as this year's holiday card.
Samantha @ Wilshire Boulevard Temple' s Irmas campus.
Bat Mitzvah Photography by Graham & Graham
Shortly before her Saturday morning Bat Mitzvah, we brought Samantha to the front door of the temple sanctuary, and made use of the natural light for a soft light portrait. It was made all the nicer for us with her comfy lean against the door. Against the torahs in the background, it just makes this a definitive Bat Mitzvah portrait. And you should hear the girl sing !

Lana @ Manhattan Beach's Congregation Tikvat Jacob Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah Photography by Graham & Graham
We've photographed at CTJ, our local hometown temple more than any other Los Angeles shul, but have never gotten a shot like this! In November we attended an incredible photo seminar by Doug Gordon, who encourages shooting portraits with little video lights instead of flash units. The idea is you'll get softer, less harsh light. We've been experimenting with video lights since, especially at CTJ, and love what we see, but this is our favorite.
We put the video light into an umbrella, turned off all the lights in the sanctuary, and this is what we got, a moody, reflective shot.

Sam @ Long Beach Renaissance Hotel

Long Beach Bar Mitzvah | Renaissance Hotel
Okay, this photo is not arty, but it is THE iconic Bar/Bat Mitzvah party shot, and for good reason. Who can ever tire of seeing a kid up in a chair, hoisted by his parents and friends, having an absolute blast? The confetti just makes it that much better.
Sam had his Bar Mitzvah at the Long Beach Temple Israel. It was our first time there, and we look forward to returning in February for Emily's Bat Mitzvah.

Thomas @ Santa Monica's Beth Shir Sholom


Santa Monica Bar Mitzvah Photographer

Another classic, iconic shot we can never get enough of--Bar Mitzvah boy reading from the Torah, in a beautiful temple, dressed to the nines, with his talit refelecting in the glass.
Tyler @ CTJ in Manhattan Beach.
Congregation Tikvat Jacob Bar Mitzvah
This shoot was special for a number of reasons. Manhattan Beach's CTJ is a conservative temple with strict, no-photography-during-services rules. Tyler is a special needs child who is autistic and doesn't use a lot of words. He had an afternoon service, which ended after sundown, so for the first time, at our pleading, CTJ let us document part of the service. We were honored to be there for this historic occasion. And so was Tyler, who seemed just absolutely thrilled with every moment of the big day. His enthusiasm was infectious on everyone.
Alex @ Temple Menorah of Redondo Beach

Temple Menorah Bat Mitzvah by Graham & Graham Photography
Redondo Beach's Temple Menorah is a large, beautiful building near Torrance, and it can be really dark inside, even with the lights we bring to photograph our portraits. This was our second time shooting at Menorah, and it was really, really hot inside this day. So after about a half-hour, we opened a side door to let some air in--and look at what came with it--beautiful, soft daylight. We brought Alex to the door with the torah, and let the natural light shine on her face. We loved the results so much, now we always look for the side door at all our temples!
Andy @ Orange County's Temple Beth Shalom 
Orange County Bar Mitzvah
Bar Mitzvah boy in front of torahs, with our favorite Canon 70mm-200mm 2.8 lens. It's a classic, made all the better this day thanks to Andy's orange hair, juxtaposed against the orange hue of the torahs. This was our fifth shoot at our favorite Orange County shul, Temple Beth Shalom , and we look forward to returning in 2009.
Brandon @ Camp Hess Kramer
Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bar Mitzvah | Camp Hess Kramer
Look, we traveled to Israel to photograph a Bar Mitzvah!
Not quite, but it sure looks like it. 
Brandon and his family spent the weekend at Wilshire Boulevard Temple's Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu, where he went to the torah in the rustic chapel in the woods, and then partied in a big tent below. 
It was an overcast day, so for this image, we put a flash unit on a light stand, bounced into an umbrella, to help the image pop. 

Alex @ Temple Shalom of the South Bay, Manhattan Beach Marriott.
Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah | Temple Shalom of the South Bay
Who can beat an outdoor ceremony on a beautiful September day overlooking a lush green golf course? That's Alex at the Bima, with smiling Rabbi Lori from Hermosa Beach's Temple Shalom of the South Bay looking on. Temple Shalom travels to different venues each weekend for its B'nai Mitzvahs, and Alex's mom choose the wonderful Manhattan Beach Marriott (we're biased--it's five blocks from our home) for the event. On this day, with Alex singing up there, and smiling so, with the greenery of the trees and grass a magnificent backdrop, the M.B. Marriott never looked finer.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Leo Baeck Temple Bar Mitzvah | Dimitri

Leo Baeck Temple Bar Mitzvah Portrait by Graham & Graham
Leo Baeck Temple Bar Mitzvah by Graham & Graham




Dimitri is a talented young Los Angeles actor, so it was natural that when he joined forces with Sam Graham of Graham & Graham Photography for his Bar Mitzvah shoot, they enjoyed going the extra mile for some arty, magazine worthy shots. Dimitri had his Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah at the Leo Baeck Temple--(speaking of art--right across the street from the Getty Center) in September, with a fun party (two ice cream cakes!) in Baeck's social hall. Mazel Tov Dimitri!